Marty Airhart grew up in the First Pentecostal Holiness Church in Birmingham. His parents were loyal, dedicated, and dependable members of the church. He is a graduate of Emmanuel College. He is one of the finest pianists and organists in the known world. God has gifted him with a musical talent and Marty has developed it. His children are all musicians.
The following is what Marty Airhart wrote about his former pastor and friend, O. N. Todd, Jr.:
Each time I went home to Birmingham in recent years, my brother and I would stop by Brother Todd's living quarters on the way home from the airport. We chatted and laughed and caught up on the news.
The last time I saw him was the day of my own father's funeral. He was in bed at the time, unable to rise. My daughter brought her violin in, and my brother asked would he like to hear a song. His answer, was of course, "YES!" Nikki played "There's Something About That Name." He tried to sing along a few bars with her. We had to leave her playing the song and go outside to the hallway and wipe the tears.
He is the only pastor that many of us knew for the majority of our lives. To my own benefit, he would have the church choir sing a song that utilized three chords so I could play the piano with them. i. e., he made room for me when others would not have thought of that. I'm still playing today thanks to his thoughtfulness towards a 12-year-old boy.
Newsman Tom Brokaw classifies him as one of the Greatest Generation this country will ever see. To know O.N. Todd, you know this is true. In many of our eyes, he is one of the greatest we will ever see. "Brother Todd . . . CELEBRATE! We will all be along shortly to sing with you!"
Posted on
Thu, July 28, 2011
by Hugh Morgan